Serve Speed

[krizzle]

Hello,

When using the serve speed tool at http://www.donthireddy.us/tennis/speed.html, which number should I pay attention?
Is my serve speed the initial speed, final speed, or average?
My top serve is about 68 mph initial speed, but i'm going to hopefully take another video and calculate again tomorrow.
Is about 70 mph decent for a varsity HS player looking to play #3 next year?
I know that i'm not close to my serving limit because I noticed that I toss my throw backwards, don't jump after the knee-bend, don't hit with a fully extended arm, don't pronate well, and I could 'throw my racquet into the air' faster.

 

[drakulie]

Initial speed would be the most important, as it directly impacts what the final speed will be.

More importantly, practice on location as much as speed.

good luck.

 

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Hello,

When using the serve speed tool at http://www.donthireddy.us/tennis/speed.html, which number should I pay attention?
Is my serve speed the initial speed, final speed, or average?
My top serve is about 68 mph initial speed, but i'm going to hopefully take another video and calculate again tomorrow.
Is about 70 mph decent for a varsity HS player looking to play #3 next year?
I know that i'm not close to my serving limit because I noticed that I toss my throw backwards, don't jump after the knee-bend, don't hit with a fully extended arm, don't pronate well, and I could 'throw my racquet into the air' faster.

No... That's VERY slow...

Also, don't jump.

 

[krizzle]

Ok, thanks. I didn't mean actual jumping but the natural extension of the legs after the trophy position. I can aim my serve a majority of the time though up the T is rather difficult. What kind of speed should I be able to hit in high school?

 

[drakulie]

Ok, thanks. I didn't mean actual jumping but the natural extension of the legs after the trophy position. I can aim my serve a majority of the time though up the T is rather difficult. What kind of speed should I be able to hit in high school?

In all honesty, your serve is not slow, unless you are playing competitively as a junior. Most people over estimate their serve by a lot. 70 is a very good starting point. Once you start working on some of the mechanics and get a more fluid motion, your serve speed will increase.

 

[Jaewonnie]

First and foremost, get the serve swing down. Then add all the extras. Adding extra kneebend, and such will throw ur balance off. The pronation of the serve (which is the swing) pretty much founds the whole motion. Everything else that you do to ur body should follow it (cuz it all comes down to racket headspeed).

Like in my thread where I posted some serve vids, everybody was like "get more kneebend!"
Its true I got very little leg motion but just my swing and shoulder rotation (which should never feel deliberate but connected with ur swing) can generate 100mph+ (speed from the site u stated in OP). MAKE SURE YOU DONT OVERKILL UR ARM CUZ THATS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS (and I got laser therapy to prove it:lol. But with proper technique, your arm shouldnt feel too stressed out. Adding kneebend is to complement the upper body.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS KEEP EVERYTHING CONSISTENT. keep practicing until every serve u hit feels the same. Then can you add more juice.

 

[WildVolley]

Speed varies a lot among high school players. My team played in a small league that did have a few players who went to Division 1 schools on scholarship, so we had our share of talent. Few players ever hit first serves above 100mph.

For instance, the fastest I measured among my players was 116mph in practice. He was an athletic guy but terribly inconsistent and not my top player.

Years ago, I had a player who I'd rate as a 5.0. His first serve averaged in the 80s and was usually some sort of topspin variant. He just used his serve to start points.

Don't worry about your speed at this point. Worry about your form. Once you get a proper form, small tweaks can make a big difference. I advise getting someone to film you and then looking at your serve in slow motion to diagnose needed improvements. Good luck.

 

[krizzle]

I looked over my serves, and found some interesting things. I recounted the frames, and it looks like I hit the corner of the service box after about 20 frames, giving a speed between 74.5 mph and 77. My arm's not fully extended, and I even appear to be moving back. (uh-oh) I've got some things to fix! Overall, i'm a bit proud of my serve, it gives me some free points at the level that I play at and it's only going to get better

 

[Blake0]

Serving at around 70 in varsity..unless you're able to place or put a lot of spin on your serve very well, that's not very good. You obviously sound like you have a lot of work to do on your serve (moving back..not jumping/pronating, etc) so good luck.

 

[Kick_It]

Don't worry about your serve speed. Worry about holding serve and winning matches.

What good is a 100+Mph serve going to do you?

+ Is it going to get you dates?

Probably not.

+ Is it going to get you to state playoffs?

Unlikely unless you can do so very consistently. Even then you still need lots more to actually win matches.

+ Is it going to put you in a record book somewhere?

Unlikely - until you are in the 150 Mph range


Tennis is scored by points and match wins and losses - not by who's incredible shot shows up on the highlight reel.

I wish I had a better understanding of that when I was in juniors. I did ok - but would have done much better if I really understood that by the time I was 15.

Good Luck! K_I

 

[saigonbond]

Players often get way too caught up with mph.
An effective serve wins you free points or sets you up to dictate the point.
Mph is only one of many characteristics that make up an effective serve.
A serve is not necessarily effective because of mph.
I'm sure you know many people (as I do) that can hit the ball like a cannon but couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.
Develop consistency, depth, and spin with a solid technique. Mph will naturally follow.
CHEERS!

 

[XLes paulO]

Work on control and hitting spots, all of them. A well placed 70 mph serve is much more effective then a 90 mph in the middle of the box. give it time and just hit lots of serves, most juniors dont hit enough